"Upstairs and Down," this week's offering at the St. James Thestre, is advertised as a "blissful comedy." Be this as it may (just what is a blissful comedy?), the farce by Frederic and Fanny Hatton is an excellent vehicle for the St. James players to exhibit their versatility.

The scene, of the three-act play is laid on Long Island, in an ultra-modern and fashionable home. Upstairs we have the members of, Long Island's elite society, downstairs we have their servants and critics. Anthony Ives and this wife Nancy are giving a house party, the members of which profess to be scandalized upon hearing that Alice Chesterton (Miss Jill Middleton) has been seen in New York with Captain Tereace O'Keefe (Mr. Walter Gilbert), when she was supposed to be spending the night with neighbors, Although the wagging tongues are silenced by a perfectly good explanation of the affair, Alice, becoming jealous of the attention paid by O'Keele to her older sister, persuades the latter to put the worst interpretation on the visit to New York. With this as her trump card, Alice induces Terry to agree to, the announcement of his engagement to her.

Society Reflected Downstairs

All of this is, of course, known "downstairs," where more scandal is known of the "upstairs" than among the society folk themselves. The servants gain much of their information through a little game they have invented. Torn letters are salvaged from waste baskets, and he who can patch them most cleverly wins the prize. Sprang, the butler, who is a devout Methodist and a bachelor, makes no secret of his disapproval of the goings on "upstairs." In this he has the unqualified support of Craig, the chauffeur. Meanwhile Louis Le Tour, the captain's man, enlivens the scene by making love to all the pretty servants of the opposite sex.

End of Play Unconvincing

The play ends in a rather unconvincing, if thoroughly conventional manner. Everybody reforms. Long Island apparently is swept by a wave of moral renaissance. However, they do it in an unobtrusive way, and it is something of an accomplishment to get all the characters with their plots and sub-plots straightened out.

There is such a variety of plot to "Upstairs and Down," that it is somewhat difficult to pick the stars. Miss Middleton and Mr. Gilbert of course held the centre of interest, the former making an exceptionally good flapper. Miss Mason as Betty, the older sister, also made a very good impression, while Mr. Gordon and Miss Roach showed themselves very competent as host and hostess. Downstaris, Mr. Ramley and Mr. Chase furnished the most interest. For the Boston Stock Company as a whole, we can only say this week will be remembered as one of the most successful in their treatment of the lighter type of play.